TUNA
ALBACORE, SKIPJACK, YELLOWFIN,
BIGEYE, BLUEFIN
ClearCatch tuna reporting covers 6 sustainability
and 8 human rights key indicators.
Stock Abundance
Are the vessels you source from fishing an overfished stock? ClearCatch monitors scientific assessments of 23 stocks (6 albacore, 4 bigeye, 4 bluefin, 5 skipjack and 4 yellowfin stocks) from the relevant regional fishery management organisations (RFMO) to report whether a stock is overfished (green, yellow or red). Overfishing is the practice of catching fish faster than they can replenish their population. An overfished stock doesn’t necessarily mean that the stock is in immediate danger of extinction or collapse but that currently the fish aren’t being allowed to grow and reproduce at their most productive level.
Fishing Mortality
Are the vessels you source from fishing in an area that is in danger of becoming overfished? ClearCatch monitors scientific assessments of 23 stocks (6 albacore, 4 bigeye, 4 bluefin, 5 skipjack and 4 yellowfin stocks) from the relevant regional fishery management organisations (RFMOs) to report whether a stock is is in danger of becoming overfished (green, yellow or red). Overfishing does not necessarily mean the stock is currently overfished, but it signals that fishing pressure is too high, requiring management action to prevent depletion.
MSC Certified
Are the vessels you source from certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)? The MSC is a globally recognised programme that certifies fisheries meeting strict sustainability standards. The MSC certification covers a fishing area, but only applies to specific vessels within a fishery that meet the MSC requirements. By cross-referencing your vessels against MSC certification records, ClearCatch reports on MSC certification at the vessel level.
In a FIP
Are you sourcing from vessels that are actively participating in a Fishery Improvement Program (FIP)? A FIP is a multi-stakeholder initiative designed to improve the sustainability of a fishery over time. Similar to MSC, vessels must be listed on a FIPs vessel list. Sourcing from vessels operating in the same waters, but not listed in the FIP vessel list, means you are not sourcing from that FIP. By reporting on FIP participation at the vessel level, ClearCatch ensures that only tuna sourced from vessels actively working towards sustainability is recognised as FIP-compliant. ClearCatch also allows you to customise whether a vessel is FIP-compliant on: • Status (Active, Inactive, Completed) • FIP Type (Prospective, Basic, Comprehensive) • Progress Rating (A, B, C, D, E)
Sustainability Indicators
Catch Method
What catch methods do the vessels you source from use to catch tuna? Tuna is caught using several different fishing methods, each with varying impacts on sustainability, bycatch, and stock health. All catch methods may not align with your sourcing requirements. ClearCatch can report on whether the vessels you source from meet your minimum requirements for catch method, such as: • Pole and Line only • Pole and Line or MSC Certified Purse Seine • Pole and Line or FAD-Free
ISSF PVR Compliant
Do the vessels you source report on the ISSF PVR, and do they meet the requirements for their catch method? The International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) Proactive Vessel Register (PVR) is a publicly available list of fishing vessels that have committed to best practices for sustainability. The PVR helps buyers, suppliers, and fisheries managers identify vessels that follow responsible fishing standards. Vessels on the PVR are independently audited and must comply with ISSF conservation measures specific to their fishing method. ClearCatch verifies whether a vessel is on the ISSF PVR and whether it meets the PVR requirements for its specific catch method.
Vessel Authorisation
Are the vessels you source from authorised to fish in the regions they operate in? Fishing vessels must be licensed and authorised to operate in the waters where they fish. This ensures vessels are compliant with national and international regulations. Vessels that are not licensed and authorised are recognised as Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU). Vessels engaged in IUU fishing often operate outside legal oversight, making them more likely to exploit workers through forced labour, human trafficking, and unsafe working conditions.
IUU Blacklists
Are the vessels you source from on any Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) blacklists? Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing threatens marine sustainability, fair competition, and human rights. To combat this, ClearCatch cross-checks vessels against all major IUU blacklists — public lists of vessels identified as engaging in illegal fishing activities. Once a vessel is blacklisted, it may be banned from landing catches, denied access to ports, or prohibited from exporting seafood to key markets. However, some blacklisted vessels attempt to evade restrictions by changing names, flags, or ownership structures, making continuous monitoring essential.
Human Rights Indicators
U.S. Withhold Release Order
Have any of the vessels you source from been given a Withhold Release Order (WRO) from the United States? The WRO is a trade enforcement measure issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prevent the importation of goods produced with forced labour. When a WRO is issued against a fishing vessel or fleet, any seafood linked to that vessel is banned from entering the U.S. market. ClearCatch monitors and cross-checks vessels against U.S. WRO lists, ensuring vessels with known links to forced labour do not enter your supply chain.
Port State Measures
Are the vessels you source from landing their catch in a nation that has ratified the PSMA? The Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA) is a legally binding international treaty designed to prevent Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by strengthening port controls. Adopted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the PSMA requires participating countries to enforce strict measures when vessels seek to land their catch. By restricting market access for IUU-caught seafood, the PSMA reduces illegal fishing activity and promotes greater accountability in the seafood supply chain. If tuna is landed in a port without PSMA oversight, the risk of human rights abuses onboard fishing vessels increases.
ILO C188
Has the flag state of your source vessels ratified ILO C188: Work in Fishing Convention? The International Labour Organization (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention (C188) is a legally binding treaty designed to protect the rights, safety, and well-being of fishers working at sea. It sets minimum labour standards for fishing vessels, ensuring that crew members are treated fairly, work in safe conditions, and receive decent wages. Countries that have ratified ILO C188 must enforce these labour protections and ensure vessels under their flag comply with the convention. ClearCatch verifies whether the flag state of a vessel has ratified ILO C188.
Observer Coverage
Do the purse seine vessels you source from have human / electronic observer coverage? Observer coverage—either human or electronic—is a key requirement for ensuring transparency, compliance, and sustainability in tuna fisheries. Observers allow independent oversight of working conditions onboard fishing vessels. Currently, ClearCatch only reports on observer coverage on Purse Seine vessels. Observer coverage on Longline fleets remains extremely low, with most RFMOs setting minimum observer coverage at just 5%, leaving a significant portion of fishing activity unmonitored. We are exploring ways to expand our observer coverage reporting to longline vessels.
EU Yellow / Red Card
Are your source vessels flagged to a nation with an EU yellow / red card? The European Union (EU) IUU Fishing Regulation includes a yellow/red card system to assess whether a country is effectively combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The system is designed to encourage countries to improve their fisheries governance and prevent IUU-caught seafood from entering the EU market. ClearCatch cross-checks a vessel’s flag state against the latest EU yellow/red card assessments, allowing you to identify sourcing risks and ensure compliance with EU regulations.
ITF Flag of Convenience
Are your fishing vessels flagged to a nation designation as a flag of convenience by the ITF? A Flag of Convenience (FOC) is when a fishing vessel is registered under a country that has little or no connection to the vessel’s owner. These flags are often chosen because they offer: • Weaker regulations – Less enforcement of fishing laws and labour rights. • Easier anonymity – Owners can hide their identity, making it difficult to hold them accountable. The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) maintains a list of FOC countries, identifying which registries are used to evade legal and labour protections. Many IUU fishing vessels use FOC registries to avoid scrutiny, making them a major risk factor for unsustainable and unethical fishing practices.